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Photos: On the Scene at the Hyatt Regency Chicago's Grand Reopening Bash

The redesigned Hyatt Regency Chicago hosted its big unveiling party last night, which rang in the $168-million renovation of the downtown Chicago hotel with an MC Hammer flash-mob, a legendary Chicago mayor, and enough food to feed, well, a convention.

Photos: On the Scene at the Hyatt Regency Chicago's Grand Reopening Bash

The redesigned Hyatt Regency Chicago hosted its big unveiling party last night, which rang in the $168-million renovation of the downtown Chicago hotel with an MC Hammer flash-mob, a legendary Chicago mayor, and enough food to feed, well, a convention.

The Hyatt Regency Chicago sits at the intersection of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue, essentially the crossroads of downtown Chicago. The exteriors of the two massive twin hotel towers (completed in two phases—1974 and 1980) still resemble a late-1980s corporate monolith; stepping into the gut-rehabbed lobby feels like time-traveling.

The hotel’s East Tower lobby (its main entrance) and the dining areas were the final phase of the three-year renovation, completed April 1 for $78 million. Considering the old lobby resembled a dated Vegas-style casino, aqua-blue water feature and all, the refreshed version is lighter, airier, and more modern.

At the party, this 39-year timeline charted the hotel’s course alongside modern Chicago history: the opening of Water Tower Place (1976), Michael Jordan’s draft to the Bulls (1984), the Bears’ Superbowl XXX win (1986), the death of baseball broadcaster Harry Caray (1998), on up through Millennium Park (2004), and the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup rally (2010).

In place of the old lobby’s gaudy water feature is more room to breathe—and eat, and drink and congregate. The open-air lobby still somewhat resembles an airport terminal, only one that’s been designed with a 21st century aesthetic by someone who knows what to do.

The lobby’s directories are sleek flat screens with easy-to-read text pointing toward various meetings and dining areas. No more squinting to make out sign-boards hidden in dark shadows.

Everything’s gone digital. There are a handful of guest services desks manned by attendants and concierges (as well as the obligatory Gold Passport check-in area), but the number of digital check-in stations suggests that Hyatt believes savvy guests will soon be handling this task on their own.

The skybridge connecting the East Tower to the West Tower was given a much-needed facelift. Additional seating and hang-out areas offer full-frontal views of the skyline along the eastern branch of the Chicago River.

The hotel’s signature lounge, Big Bar, kept its name but underwent a heavy-duty transition that capitalizes on natural light. Also new: barside TVs. The massive liquor tower is functional: a skinny rail ladder gives brave bartenders access to far-reaching bottles.

Guests sample comfort-food bites from American Craft Kitchen & Bar, the casual dining focus of the new lobby, and a sushi spread from Stetsons Modern Steak + Sushi, an upgrade from the hotel’s dated traditional steakhouse.

There are five dining establishments spread over the two towers in the hotel, so the food options runneth over at Thursday’s party. Charcuterie spreads, cheese wheels, a chocolate bar, even a pulled pork and mac-n-cheese station—it was essentially like dining at one very large, eclectic wedding buffet.

After being introduced by anchorman Bill Kurtis, Hyatt Regency Chicago’s general manager, Patrick Donelly, took the floor and steered the evening’s comments. Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daly, dressed in retirement garb, gave his two cents; interestingly, current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wasn’t on the floor. The Pritzkers, when called out by name to no recognition, were joked to be “otherwise occupied in room 1035.”

After his remarks, Hyatt Regency Chicago general manager Patrick Donelly was engulfed by a plainclothes flash mob, working the crowd with a throwback routine to MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This.” Like the rest of the evening, local TV news anchors ate it up.